"Letter from William Bollan, agent for the colony of Massachusetts-Bay, to the speaker of the house of assembly of that colony." "A memorandum of divers particulars, shewing the exhausted state of Massachusetts province, and the necessity of a considerable parliamentary grant, to relieve its distress, and enable it to answer the demands for the publick service in the next campaign, referred to in the preceding letter."

From various documents in these Collections, Mr. Bollan seems to have been a most active, faithful colonial agent. In the civil history of Massachusetts he is often mentioned with honour. His various memorials, petitions, and statements shew a mind replete with proper information for the benefit of the colonies, and if he was as respectable in private life, as he was diligent and laborious in publick exertions, the state of Massachusetts ought not willingly to let his memory die.

"A brief state of the province of Quebec, as to its constitution, number of inhabitants, laws, commerce, population, circulating property, tenure of real property, science, &c. written in the year 1787."

This paper may be consulted with some advantage. The official information is good, because correct; but facts have shown many of the commercial opinions to be false. It will give some idea of the colony of Canada in 1786, but since that period new laws of parliament, treaties, and the growth of the United States have variously affected that country in its settlement, fur trade, civilization, commerce, and agriculture.

"Continuation of the narrative of newspapers published in NewEngland, from the year 1704 to the revolution; in a letter from

one the members to the president the society."

This memoir continues the history of New-England newspapers to the year 1770-2. It is interspersed with various information and minute political literature. There is a queerness and a quaintness in the narrative, which resembles the manner of a pleasant old gentleman telling curious anecdotes of times before the revolution. It concludes with an account of Connecticut newspapers by Mr. Noah Webster.

"Mr. Dummer's letters to Mr. Flint."

"James Cudworth's letter to Governour Josiah Winslow, declining his appointment to a military command."

In a note, added to explain this letter, it is mentioned as probable, that the writer was appointed to the command of certain forces, raised on account of a sudden alarm that the Dutch had taken some ships in Virginia, and having possessed themselves of New-York, were bound for the northward; but from Hutchinson it is clear, that the news did not arrive at Boston till August, 1673, and Cudworth's letter is dated in January 1673. The letter deserves perusal from its patriarchal simplicity.

"James Cudworth's letter to Gov. Josiah Winslow."

This letter was written during the first expedition against Philip.

"Letter from John Easton to Governour Josiah Winslow of Plymouth colony."

Explanatory of the Indian law respecting ship-wrecked goods.

"Letter from Nathaniel Thomas, on the expedition against Philip, to Governour Winslow."

"A Letter from Secretary Rawson to Governour Winslow, to be communicated to the Council.”

This letter is dated Boston, 14 March, 1673-4, and relates some proceedings of the government of Massachusetts in reference to "the late and present actings of the Dutch in the sound."

"Letter from Gov. Leverett to Gov. Winslow."

"Letter from Edward Palmer to Governour Josiah Winslow."

"Letter from John Freeman to Gov. Winslow."

"Return of loss, in Scituate, in Philip's war."

"the grand, the incomparable." Dr.Ames's Medulla is known only to the reader of catalogues. And for direction and encouragement in devotional exercises and holy meditation who would now read "The practice of Augustine, Bernard, or Gerard; or of more modern worthies J. Ambrose, R. Baxter, B. Hall, or W. Watson, as to the theoretical part"? The works of these men are now the secure lodgments of spiders, book lice and flies in winter. Their

"Edward Randolph's letter to Governour Josiah Winslow, relative to his proceedings at Piscataqua.”

"Sachem Philip, his answer to the letter brought to him from the Governour of New-Plymouth."

"Edward Rawson's letter to the Governour of New-Plymouth, soliciting aid for the college at Cambridge."

"Letter of instructions from the Massachusetts General Court to William Bollan, their agent at the court of Great-Britain."

These instructions were made in 1756, to assist Mr. Bollan in an humble and earnest application to his majesty for relief from the grievous burden the province was under from the impressing of seamen, fishermen, and others, for the manning of his majesty's ships of war.

"Letter from Leonard Hoar, M.D. to Josiah Flint."

In this long letter much advice is given upon studying, and common place books or paper books, as the writer calls them. It is curious to observe, what books were once read and recommended. Peter Ramus, who now is hardly consulted even by the metaphysician, is in this letter extolled, as

the theological inquirer. They lay in old libraries, as long lances and baronial shields in gothick armouries, testimonials of ancient elaboration and gradual decay.

"Some memoirs for the continuation of the history of the troubles of the New-English colonies, from the barbarous and perfidious Indians, instigated by the more savage and inhuman French of Canada and Nova-Scotia. Began Nov. 3, 1726. By Benjamin Colman, D. D."

"Letter from Henry Newman, to the Rev. Henry Flynt."

Upon some books for Harvard College.

"Letter from Paul Mascarenc to Governour Shirley."

This relates to the history of the government of Nova-Scotia from 1710 to 1748 with suggestions of amendments.

"Prince and Bosworth's petition to the government of Plymouth, relative to the mackarel fishery."

"Letter from William Bollan, agent for the Massachusetts, at the court of Great-Britain, to Josiah Willard, secretary of that province, respecting an intention of governing the colonies like Ireland."

"Mr. Bollan's petition to the duke of Bedford, relative to French encroachments, 1748."

This is an important historical and geographical document, and ought to be read by him, who wishes to understand the whole reasons of the war, that terminated by the peace of 1763. The boundaries of the French and English colonies in North America, as described by charter, conquest, treaties, and maps, were often perplexed and sometimes inconsistent. Both nations had plausible arguments in their favour, and nationality of spirit added the obstinacy of prejudice to the real appearance of equity in their long and fatiguing diplomatick discussions. Which party was right is not difficult for an Englishman or a Frenchman to say; and the philosophick inquirer may well be excused from deciding an old question of colonial boundaries, when he observes that now dynasties are annihilated, and empires overturned by French despotick power, without the courtesy of negociation or the formality of resistance.

"Gov. Hamilton's letter to Gov. Shirley."

This letter inclosed the next communication, entitled

"Major Washington's letter to Governour Hamilton,"

In which Major W. relates the progress of his detachment towards the Ohio in the war of 1754, and incloses two other documents, entitled

"A Summon, by order of Contrecœur, captain of one of the companies of the detachment of the French marine, commander in chief of his most christian majes ty's troops now on the Beautiful river to the commander of those of the king of Great-Britain, at the mouth of the river Monongahela," To which Mr. Ward was obliged to submit ; And

"Speech from the Half King to

the Governours of Virginia and Pennsylvania, referred to in Major Washington's letter."

By which the Half King offers assistance.

"A list of the Presidents of the colony of Rhode-Island and Providence plantations, under the first charter; and of the Governours, under the second charter, collected from the publick records."

"Letter from his Excellency Gov. Jay, corresponding member of the Historical Society, to its corresponding secretary.'

This letter corrects two mistakes in the report of the committee of the board of correspondents of the Scots society for propagating christian knowledge, &c. published in the Hist. Col. for 1798.

"A letter from the treasurer of the Massachusetts Historical Society to the president, on the propriety and expediency of an appropriate national name, designatory of the citizens of the United States, as a distinct people from the other inhabitants of the two vast American peninsulas."

This memoir is written with ingenuity, and in an easy style. Mr. Tudor is forcible in his reasons against the retention of America, as a geographical term to designate the United States, and proposes Columbia, as a suitable name.

"Letter from his late Excellency Jonathan Trumbull, Esq. to Baron J. D. Vander Capellan, seigneur du Pol, membre des nobles de la province d'Overysul, &c."

Gov. Trumbull, after briefly touching on the early settlement of Massachusetts and Connecticut, relates the history of the American war till 1779-80, and the then state of the country. We extract a very important paragraph.

in 1640, governour Winthrop, in his Journal, inferts the following paffage, viz." Upon the great liberty which the king left the parliament to in England, fome of our friends there wrote to us, advifing, to fend over fome to folicit for us in parliament, giving us hopes we might obtain much: but confulting about it, we (the governour and affiftants, convened in council) declined the motion for this confideration, that if we should put ourselves under the protection of parliament, we must be fubject to all fuch laws they fhould make, or at leaft such as they might impofe on us; in which course, though they should intend our good, yet it might prove very prejudicial to us." Here obferve, that as at this time, fo it hath been ever fince, that the colonies, fo far from acknowledging the parliament to have a right to make laws binding on them in all cafes whatsoever, they have ever denied it in any cafe.

"The petition of the Earl of Stirling, William Phillips Lee, and Mary Trumbull, praying to be put in possession of some lands, called the county of Canada, granted to William Earl of Stirling, in 1635, by the council for the affairs of N. England. 1760."

"Letter from Jasper Mauduit, Esq. to the Speaker of the house of representatives of the province of Massachusetts-Bay, relative to a reimbursement from parliament for the expense of supporting the French neutrals from Nova Scotia." "Letter from Jasper Mauduit, Esq. to the Speaker of the house of representatives of the province of Massachusetts-Bay, relative to the duty laid by parliament on foreign molasses."

"Letter from Jasper Mauduit, Esq. to the Speaker of the house of representatives of the province of Massachusetts-Bay, relative to the duty on foreign molasses, the keeping up ten thousand troops in America, &c."

The titles explain the subjects of the foregoing papers. The hisVol. III. No. 6.

2R

torian will consult them, and the careless reader will consult the historian.

"Letter from Thomas Mayhew to Gov. Prince,"

Upon the politicks of the Indians of the Elizabeth islands and the Vineyard in 1671.

"James Walker's letter to Gov. Prince."

A few particulars about king Philip.

"Daniel Gookin's letter to Gov. Prince."

Letter from Gov. Prince to Daniel Gookin."

"Instructions from the church at Natick to William and Anthony."

They were appointed mediators between the Missogkonnog Indians and the government of Plymouth in 1671.”

"Copy of a letter from Governour Prince to Roger Williams."

This is an answer to a complaint of Roger Williams about liberty of religious worship, which he feared the colonies of Massachusetts,Connecticut, and Plymouth intended to take from him by conquering his colony at Providence.

"James Quanapaug's information."

Quanapaug was sent from Natick in 1675 to reconnoitre hostile Indians, kingPhilip, Narragansetts, &c. He saw much,and told it well.

"Letter from Governour Stuyvesant, of N. York, to the Governour and Council of Massachusetts."

Gov. S. complains of the irregular proceedings of some English colonial officers in New-York and the unjustifiable outrages of a large company of men on Long Island, and wishes for peaceable accommodation. Boston has long been celebrated for courtesy and kind attention to strangers, and we are proud to mention, that in 1663 Gov. S. thus writes :

The engagement whereby I confeffed myself obliged unto your honours, to your citizens, both horfe and foot, for the large refpects, honourable reception, and entertainment in the city and colony of Boston, doth provoke me, by this feafonable opportunity, to return all due and thankful acknowledgment, which fhould have been done fooner, if my ficknefs and other intervening occafions, had not occafioned this neglect. But I hope it will never be too late to offer this tribute of thankfulness, and due engagement, unto your honours, in any occation.

Deposition of Hugh Cole, at Plymouth Court, A. D. 1670," About king Philip.

"A Description and History of Salem, by Rev. William Bentley." The history of Salem contains a great variety of facts. Whether all the statements are correct, we are not able to decide; nor can we point out what is true, and what is false. Dr. Bentley has investigated with diligence the state of population, diseases, religious worship, &c. His opinions and inferences may be open to doubt, but we are not disposed to withhold praise from curiosity of inquiry and accumulation of results. The character given of Roger Williams is different from that to be drawn from the statements of former historians, and although Dr. Bentley may have correctly estimated that singular man, still, as he knew there were doubts respecting the true character of the Patriarch of Providence, he ought to have cited authorities in support of his opinions. He would have made the work more luminous, had he divided it into chapters with appropriate heads; for now we cannot with facility find any particular fact, required to be known. The author mentions at the close, that the history is to be continued, but in the succeeding volumes of the Historical Collections the continuation does not appear. We hope

he will proceed in the work, for diligence and exactness are not to be found in every historian; and these qualities shall always receive our praise, though our disapprobation may be sometimes excited by obscurity of style and perplexity of arrangement. As a specimen of Dr. Bentley's work we insert the character of Roger Williams, and we are willing to believe every commendation of this extraordinary man; of one, who was enterprizing, eccentrick, heroick, and pious.

He

In Salem, every perfon loved Mr. Williams. He had no perfonal enemies under any pretence. All valued his friendship. Kind treatment could win him, but oppofition could not conquer him. He was not afraid to stand alone for truth against the world; and he had always addrefs enough, with his firmhe had ever gained. nefs, never to be forfaken by the friends He had always a tenderness of confcience, and feared eve ry offence against moral truth. breathed the pureft devotion. He was ready in thoughts and words, and defied all his vaunting adverfaries to publick difputation. He had a familiar imagery of ftyle, which fuited his times, and he indulged even in the titles of his contro verfial papers to wit upon names, especially upon the Quakers. He knew man better than he did civil government. He was a friend to human nature, forgiving, apright, and pious. He understood the Indians better than any man of the age. He made not fo many converts, but he made more fincere friends. their paffions, and the restraints they could endure. He was betrayed into no wild or expenfive projects respecting them. He ftudied their manners and their cuftoms and paffions together. His vocabulary alfo proves that he was famihar with the words of their language, if not with its principles. It is an happy relief in contemplating fo eccentrick a character, that no fufferings induced any purposes of revenge, for which he afterwards had great opportunities; that great focial virtues corrected the first errours of his opinions; and that he lived to exhibit to the natives a noble example of generous goodness, and to be the parent of the independent state of Rhode

He knew